Last updated: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, 8:30 p.m. ET.
USA Hockey invited 29 programs to its new Development League, which starts play in 2027-28 with one 15U and one 17U team at each program. This page tracks every program and every date. We update it when USA Hockey or a club announces something, and we date every change.
New to the DL? Start with our plain-English guide: what the league is, who plays, how signing works and what it costs.
Invited: 29 · Accepted: pending (deadline Wed., Oct. 7, 5 p.m. ET) · Declined: none reported
Oct. 5, 2026. Minnesota Hockey said on X it will announce “new and enhanced player development pathways in alignment with USA Hockey’s Development League” on Tuesday morning. Shattuck-St. Mary’s is the only Minnesota program on the list. We’ll add the details when they’re out.
Oct. 5, 2026. Among the programs that applied and weren’t selected: Masters Academy and Lovell Academy, the Boston Globe reported.
Oct. 5, 2026. USA Hockey named 29 programs on its Next Gen podcast. More than 80 applied. Invited programs have until Wed., Oct. 7, at 5 p.m. ET to accept.
Know of an announcement from one of these clubs that isn’t here? Email [email protected] with the link. We add it once we can confirm it.
Program | State | Status |
|---|---|---|
Anaheim Jr. Ducks | CA | Invited |
BK Selects (Bishop Kearney) | NY | Invited |
Boston Jr. Eagles | MA | Invited |
Buffalo Jr. Sabres | NY | Invited |
Chicago Mission | IL | Invited |
Colorado Thunderbirds | CO | Invited |
Compuware | MI | Invited |
Culver Academies | IN | Invited |
Dallas Stars Elite | TX | Invited |
Fox Motors | MI | Invited |
HB Hockey Club (HB Detroit) | MI | Invited |
Jr. Coyotes | AZ | Invited |
Jr. Mounties | RI | Invited |
Little Caesars | MI | Invited |
Los Angeles Jr. Kings | CA | Invited |
Madison Capitols | WI | Invited |
Mid Fairfield | CT | Invited |
Nashville Jr. Predators | TN | Invited |
North Jersey Avalanche | NJ | Invited |
Ohio Blue Jackets | OH | Invited |
Okanagan Hockey Colorado | CO | Invited |
Philadelphia Jr. Flyers | PA | Invited |
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite | PA | Invited |
Reapers Hockey Association | IL | Invited |
Rockets Hockey Club | NJ | Invited |
Seacoast Spartans | NH | Invited |
Shattuck-St. Mary’s | MN | Invited |
St. Louis AAA Blues | MO | Invited |
Wolfpack Hockey Club | NJ | Invited |
Names as USA Hockey announced them. Status changes from Invited to Accepted or Declined only when USA Hockey or the club says so publicly.
Date | What happens |
|---|---|
Wed., Oct. 7, 5 p.m. ET | Invited programs must accept. |
Thu., Oct. 15 | Deposits due. |
Jan. 15 to 31, 2027 | Early signing period for returning players. |
February 2027 | Open signing period. |
Aug. 1, 2027 | DL teams may start practice. |
September 2027 | First regular season begins. |
Tier I programs outside the DL can’t hold tryouts until 48 hours after Nationals.
Who plays. 15U and 17U. In 2027-28 that’s 15U for players born 2012 and 2013, and 17U for players born 2010 to 2012. Our age chart has the full table.
The season. 40 to 55 games from September through March, at least 60% against other DL teams, then a DL playoff and championship separate from USA Hockey Nationals.
The rules for families. Before a DL team can offer an agreement, it must give the family a Team Fact Sheet with the season’s fees, payment schedule and weekly schedule. A signed agreement guarantees the roster spot for the full season. DL programs can’t also field 15O or 16U Tier I teams.
Who it doesn’t touch. Girls’ hockey, high school, prep and Tier II. The league is U.S. only.
The full breakdown from announcement day covers how programs were picked and what changes for clubs on and off the list.
YOUR MOVE: If a DL program reaches out, ask for its Team Fact Sheet first. Our free Team Fact Sheet is the same one-page form for any club, at any level. Then line the offer up against what you have now with our free comparison sheet.
Sources: USA Hockey Next Gen podcast, Oct. 5 · USA Hockey Development League · USA Hockey 2026 Winter Meeting legislation · Boston Globe, Oct. 5 (programs not selected) · Minnesota Hockey on X, Oct. 5 · U.S. only.
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